# Shenandoah (musical)

Shenandoah is a 1974 musical with music by Gary Geld, lyrics by Peter Udell, and book by Udell, Philip Rose, and James Lee Barrett. It is based on Barrett's original screenplay for the 1965 film Shenandoah.

## Synopsis

Charlie Anderson, a widower, lives with his large family in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, during the American Civil War. Anderson does not wish to be involved with the war because he doesn't consider it "his" war, but he is forced to take action when his youngest son Robert is taken prisoner by Union soldiers. In the course of searching for Robert, Charlie, his daughter Jenny, and some of his sons rescue Sam (Jenny's newlywed Confederate soldier husband) from a Yankee POW train. After enduring the tragedy of losing his eldest son Jacob (to a sniper) and his second eldest son James and James' wife Anne (to deserters), Charlie and the rest of the family return home, defeated. In his despair, Charlie is reminded to return to church, where he, at long last, is reunited with Robert once more.

## Original cast and characters

| Character | Broadway (1975) | First National Tour (1977) | First Broadway Revival (1989) |
| Charlie Anderson | John Cullum | John Raitt | John Cullum |
| Ann Anderson | Donna Theodore | Jana Schneider | Camilla Scott |
| Jenny Anderson | Penelope Milford | Suzy Brabeau | Tracey Moore |
| James Anderson | Joel Higgins | Paul Myrvold | Christopher Martin |
| Jacob Anderson | Ted Agress | Dean Russell | Burke Lawrence |
| Sam | Gordon Halliday | Gordon Halliday | Tom Cavanagh | Tom Cavanagh |
| Gabriel | Chip Ford | Cal Boney | Roy McKay |
| Robert (The Boy) | Joseph Shapiro | Steve Grober | Jason Zimbler |
| Henry Anderson | Robert Rosen | Martin Meredith | Robin Blake |
| John Anderson | David Russell | David Russell | Stephen McIntyre | Stephen McIntyre |
| Nathan Anderson | Jordan Suffin | Robert Quigley | Nigel Hammer |

## Productions

The play was first performed at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut, during 1974. It then moved to the Colonial Theater in Boston for a pre-Broadway run from November 25, 1974 - December 14, 1974. It then transferred to the Alvin Theatre on Broadway beginning on January 7, 1975. where it played for a total of 1,050 performances, ending August 7, 1977.
The production was directed by Philip Rose, with scenery by Chuck Murawski, lighting by Thomas R. Skelton, costumes by Pearl Somner and Winn Morton, choreography by Robert Tucker, dance arrangements by Russell Warner, musical direction by Lynn Crigler, and orchestrations by Don Walker. Michael P. Price was executive director of the Goodspeed Opera House.
The production was nominated for six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and won two: one for Best Actor in a Musical (John Cullum) and the other for Best Book of a Musical.
Shenandoah was revived at the Virginia Theatre on Broadway, again with Cullum in the main role, on August 8, 1989, and ended September 2, 1989. It returned to the Goodspeed Opera House during 1994, featuring Marc Kudisch. A new production began on March 22, 2006 at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., featuring Scott Bakula. A positive critical response and strong sales resulted in the run being extended through May 21, although Bakula left the production April 30.
Shenandoah was staged by The Serenbe Playhouse in Serenbe, Georgia in spring 2019. It featured Taylor Hicks and Rachel Potter in the cast. It received positive reviews.